Keith Mack
Breaking the law is generally considered to be an immoral and unacceptable act, but there are some who argue that there are times when it is justifiable, or even necessary. This introduction will explore the arguments for and against breaking the law, and consider the circumstances in which it might be deemed acceptable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Moral decision | The law cannot see every possibility, and is intentionally over-arching. People have to make their own choices and be willing to accept the consequences. |
| Emergency | It can be okay to break the law in an emergency to help someone else. |
| Immoral law | It can be moral to break the law when the law is itself immoral. |
| Justice | There are certain circumstances where laws need to be broken in order to ensure that justice is realised. |
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What You'll Learn
Breaking the law to help someone in an emergency
Breaking the law is sometimes okay, and even essential, in certain situations. This is especially true in an emergency where breaking the law is necessary to help someone else. For example, if you see someone dying of thirst, it would be morally right to steal them a bottle of water, even if you can't afford it. The law is there to protect us, but it can't account for every possibility, so it's up to us to make our own choices and accept the consequences.
There are also historical examples of when breaking the law has been necessary to ensure justice is served, such as the actions of civil rights campaigners. Sometimes, laws are passed that are immoral and need to be broken. It's important to remember that breaking the law in these situations does not invalidate the law itself, but it does mean that in specific circumstances, it is morally better to break it than to follow it.
People may also break the law to hurt someone, but this is not what this discussion is about.
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Breaking an immoral law
There are also situations in which a person may have to break the law in an emergency to help someone else. For instance, if someone is dying of thirst and the only water available is in a shop and you cannot afford to buy it, it would be considered morally acceptable to steal the water to save the person's life.
In these cases, breaking the law does not invalidate it but rather highlights that, in specific circumstances, it is morally better to break it than to follow it. This does not mean that people should not be willing to accept the consequences of their actions, but rather that they should be allowed to act according to their conscience.
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Breaking the law to make a moral decision
In some cases, the law may be immoral or impede a greater good. In these situations, it can be argued that breaking the law is not only okay but essential. For instance, stealing a bottle of water to save someone dying of thirst is illegal, but most would agree that it is the right thing to do.
People have to make their own choices and be willing to accept the consequences. While the laws are there to protect us, it is up to individuals to live by their conscience and act accordingly, even if that means breaking the law.
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Breaking the law to ensure justice is realised
Breaking the law is sometimes necessary to ensure that justice is realised. This is particularly true when the law is immoral or when there is a more important moral consideration that supersedes the law. For example, the civil rights movement in American history was an instance where breaking the law was necessary to bring about justice.
The law cannot see every possibility, and people must make their own choices and be willing to accept the consequences. In some cases, breaking the law can be the right thing to do if it is for a good cause. For instance, if someone is dying of thirst and there is a shop nearby selling bottles of water, but you do not have the money to buy one, it would be morally justifiable to steal a bottle of water to save the person's life.
However, it is important to recognise that breaking the law can have consequences, and one must be prepared to accept these. While it may be necessary to break the law in certain situations, it is not something that should be done lightly.
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Breaking the law to impeded a greater good
Breaking the law can be okay in certain circumstances. For example, if the law is immoral, or when there is a more important moral consideration which supersedes the law. In these cases, breaking the law can be essential to ensure that justice is realised. An example of this is the civil rights movement, where campaigners broke the law to fight for equal rights.
The law is intentionally over-arching and cannot see every possibility. Therefore, people have to make their own choices and be willing to accept the consequences. In some cases, breaking the law can be the moral decision. For instance, if you see someone dying of thirst and there is a shop nearby selling water, but you do not have the money to buy it, it would be moral to break the law against theft and save the person's life.
However, it is important to note that breaking the law can also have negative consequences. People who break the law may be punished, and there is a risk of causing harm to others. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully consider the potential outcomes of breaking the law and to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are certain circumstances where breaking the law is necessary to ensure justice is served. For example, the civil rights movement in American history.
It can be moral to break the law if it is itself immoral, or when there is a more important moral consideration. For example, if you see someone dying of thirst and you don't have the money to buy them water, it would be moral to steal water to save their life.
It can be okay to break the law in an emergency if it is to help someone else.
